RugbyRebels

Premiership Winner:

Wasps

Table order:

1. Exeter
2. Saracens
3. Wasps
4. Gloucester
5. Leicester
6. Sale
7. Bath
8. Northampton
9. Harlequins
10. Newcastle
11. Worcester
12. Bristol

European predictions - how will the English teams do?

Exeter and Sarries to make the semis but both lose. One other to make the knockout phase.

Top try scorer:

Wade

Top points scorer:

Cipriani

Surprise of the season:

Wasps to look down and out in January but put a post 6N run of form together that takes them into the playoffs and the eventual title as their team starts to get.

Biggest disappointment:

Newcastle to take a step back as the thin nature of their squad is revealed.

Player having a breakthrough season:

Joe Cokanasiga sort of arrived last year but I think that he's going to really step it up in a better bath team.

Tempted by Shillcock but think he'll be stymied by Solomon's.

Best signing:

Sopoaga to show how good he actually is.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:

Taqele Naiyaravoro will have one great game early ok then lose interest and be rubbish thereafter when he realised the ball is rarely going beyond ten.

Premiership Winner:
Wasps

Table order:
1. Exeter
2. Wasps
3. Sarries
4. Glaws
5. Tigers
6. Sale
7. Falcons
8. Saints
9. Quins
10. Bath
11. Wuss
12. Bristol

European predictions - how will the English teams do?
Wasps - Quarters
Sarries - Semis
Exeter - Quarters

Top try scorer:
Lewington

Top points scorer:
Sopoaga

Surprise of the season:
Mitchell and Jones actually make a good combo and England take some steps forward

Biggest disappointment:
Dan Biggar, get's paid a lot of money, but doesn't push Saints style at all.

Player having a breakthrough season:
Will Stuart - One of JCW or Brookes will be injured at some point, Stuart to burst onto the scene.

Best signing:
Michael Le Bourgeoius (sp?) - manages to settle and impress very early on, secures a reasonably regular spot. Best signing on strength of likely low salary for effectiveness.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
Cuthbert (fish in a barrel?).

Have to say, this is probably the first season ever that I’ve been more excited to see how the club game goes than international.

Premiership Winner: Saracens

Table order:
Saracens
Exe
Tigers
Glos
Wasps
Bath
Newcastle
Saints
Quins
Sale
Worcester
Bristol

European predictions - how will the English teams do? 2 in QF's. Maybe 1 SF/finalist

Top try scorer: Chris Ashton

Top points scorer: Joe Simmonds

Surprise of the season: We win all 4 AI's

Biggest disappointment: Continuing injury issues for several of our top players (hope i'm wrong)

Player having a breakthrough season: Several contenders here but i'm going with Adam Radwan at Newcastle. Think Dingwall at Saints and Wilkinson at Sale will be worth keeping an eye on.

Best signing: Dare I say Ashton will prove a hit at Sale? I'd like to see Johnny Williams flourish at Newcastle and Spencer likewise at Tigers.

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Just by the law of averages, several of those signed for Bristol are bound to have almost no impact in the premiership.

Right, here goes nothing...

Premiership Winner: Saracens

Table order:
1. Exeter
2. Saracens
3. Bath (yes, I know)
4. Leicester
5. Gloucester
6. Wasps (see my Jerome Shuster nomination)
7. Newcastle
8. Northampton
9. Sale
10. Bristol
11. Harlequins
12. Worcester

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Exeter and Sarries into the QFs; Leicester 2nd in pool but not enough to go through; Challenge Cup KO stages to be dominated by the English teams, as no-one else cares.

Top try scorer: Ashton

Top points scorer: Farrell

Surprise of the season: Wasps implosion

Biggest disappointment: Wasps, Sopoanga to just not setle, and they'll REALLY miss Cip.s

Player having a breakthrough season: Is it too late to nominate Joe Simmonds for this?

Best signing: a pair of Piatua.s

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Sopoanga



In summary, I think Sopoanga will turn out to be one of the bad SH signings; so much expected; a replacement for Cips that just doesn't pan out; and Wasps attack to suffer as a result. I kinda expect this prediction to be my major gamble this year; and will likely make me a laughing stock in 9 months time, as he clicks and wasps go from strength to strength, cut down on the tries given away, and top the table.
Last year Leicester and Bath performed way under par for the talent available; if they reach par, both should do better.
Newcstle to have been worked out - like Sale, they still have a good 1st XV; but no real depth (though unlike Sale, they at least have bodies to cover injuries hence rated higher)
Bristol to actually look like a cohesive team with a spattering of gold dust; if they can get close to parity up in the tight 5 (so targetting Worcester, Quins, Sale and Saints) then the likes of Smith (half a season), Maddigan, Piatau & Piatau will make the most of it. Lam to get coach of the season.

Which Tyler wrote:Right, here goes nothing...

Nothing? I’d call that a win. If by the end of the season anybody posting on here doesn’t want to sit in a darkened room crying and questioning what the point of living is then they’ve done better than previous attempts would suggest. Simply nothing would be a big win.

I’ll write down my own stick to beat myself with once I’m back from hols and I’ve had a good look at the final squads.

Mellsblue wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:Right, here goes nothing...

Nothing? I’d call that a win. If by the end of the season anybody posting on here doesn’t want to sit in a darkened room crying and questioning what the point of living is then they’ve done better than previous attempts would suggest. Simply nothing would be a big win.

I’ll write down my own stick to beat myself with once I’m back from hols and I’ve had a good look at the final squads.

Indeed. And you get extra points for the bravado, rather than just being boring.

Not that that will help you when the thread is necroed at the end of the season, but my mild respect now is worth its weight in gold.

Puja

Puja wrote:
Indeed. And you get extra points for the bravado, rather than just being boring.

Yay, at least I'm guaranteed some points.
Inevitably not enough to prevent the self-flaggelation - or the incoming-flaggelation for that matter, but still; it wont be a British Eurovision entry!

Puja wrote:
The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
I'm tempted to go left-field on this one and name someone like Shields not acclimating to the Premiership, but I think I'll play safe and go for Jamie Roberts, the hero that Bath neither wanted, nor needed.

Given the low expectations, and alleged low wage, is he even eligible?

Tigersman wrote:Surprised people are picking Internationals to be top points scorers.

Other than Farrell last year think Kenny Logan for Wasps was the last time an current International finished top of the points scoring.

The internationals miss what? 2 Prem matches?
I had played with the same logic (McGinty) before going with Farrell.
Besides, there was no-one obvious from non-internationals. Cips at Glos?
Bath, Ex and Wasps will share the kicking duties, Bigger, Ford and Fax will all be missing those 2 matches... Which leaves us McGinty at Sale, whoever at Newcastle, or the a relegation candidate.

Puja wrote: You get nothing for shooting fish in a barrel! Picking someone like PDJ or Matthews to be crap is likely to be true, but entirely unambitious. Go braver!

I always think the Schuster isn't just a bad signing, but one who arrives with high expectations. Someone arriving expected to fail, and failing, really isn't worthy of this; so Cuthbert, Maafu, Roberts etc simply aren't eligible

Puja wrote: I was tempted by Sopoaga, as I think there's a reasonable chance he might not acclimate to the Prem and might end up being ousted by Gopperth, but wasn't brave enough to go for it.

Of course, if it turns out to be true, I'm totally claiming this post as having called it, while allowing myself to disavow it if he has a stormer.

Coward!

[quote="Which Tyler"

Tigersman wrote:Surprised people are picking Internationals to be top points scorers.

Other than Farrell last year think Kenny Logan for Wasps was the last time an current International finished top of the points scoring.

The internationals miss what? 2 Prem matches?[/quote]

2 Prem games in the AI
2 - 4 Prem games in the Six nations.

So 4-8 games depending on the player which is 16-33%

Tigersman wrote:
2 Prem games in the AI
2 - 4 Prem games in the Six nations.

So 4-8 games depending on the player which is 16-33%

I was specifically thinking of Bigger at the time, who will either miss virtually nothing, or Saints are willing to risk not just the known, paltry £40k fine, but being the first club to do it twice and earn an actual slap on the wrist.
Of course, I then decided that internationals don't miss many, and decided that Sarries earn so many shots at goal, that I'd go with Fazlet.
...
Too late now

Premiership Winner: Glaws

Table order:
1. Saracens
2. Glaws
3. Wasps
4. Leicester
5. Bath
6. Brizzle
7. Exeter
8. Newcastle
9. Northampton
10. Sale
11. Worcester
12. Harlequins

European predictions - how will the English teams do? Sarries into the SFs; Leicester QFs; Challenge Cup is taken seriously by the rest of Europe and English sides fall by the wayside

Top try scorer: C Piatau

Top points scorer: Cipriani

Surprise of the season: Eddie Jones gets his wish and referees ref the breakdown allowing competition, sealing off is heavily pinged accounting for Exeters lowly finish as they struggle to come to terms with the adaption. Things come right when Kvesic becomes first choice 7 after returning from an early season injury keeping him out for several months for Exeter but its too late in the season and they crawl up to 7th spot

Biggest disappointment: Cuthbert

Player having a breakthrough season: Not a bloody clue tbh

Best signing: C Piatua

The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing: Tuapai

Which Tyler wrote:

Puja wrote:
The Jerome Schuster Award for least effective signing:
I'm tempted to go left-field on this one and name someone like Shields not acclimating to the Premiership, but I think I'll play safe and go for Jamie Roberts, the hero that Bath neither wanted, nor needed.

Given the low expectations, and alleged low wage, is he even eligible?

Puja wrote: You get nothing for shooting fish in a barrel! Picking someone like PDJ or Matthews to be crap is likely to be true, but entirely unambitious. Go braver!

I always think the Schuster isn't just a bad signing, but one who arrives with high expectations. Someone arriving expected to fail, and failing, really isn't worthy of this; so Cuthbert, Maafu, Roberts etc simply aren't eligible

I would have said that anyone who's been signed to come into the starting XV is a player who comes with expectations. It's not like Bath are signing him to be a squad filler, but as their replacement for Tapuai and first choice 12.

Puja

I'd not be shocked to see Searle start at 10 with Sopoaga at 12 to be honest. Quite like what I've seen of Searle.

I like the look of Searle last time Bristol were in the Premiership but personally I’d rather see what Le Bourgeois can do at 12 with Sopoaga at 10.

I think Searle will get a reasonable amount of game time though.

I think Searle might be one of the best £ for £ signings. He's a belting signing as a backup 10.

Puja

Booj is definitely another option at 12. I'm hoping we can make something of ross neal.

Blimey. The hype for Booj - Raggs is already on nickname terms - is growing already. How much has anybody actually seen him play? I think he’s quality but I’m not certain he is top 4 Prem quality. I would be delighted to be wrong. Both 12t and Atkinson looked more obvious Prem players when playing at the finishing school. That said, Booj was more a 8/10 every game, makes the correct decision 9/10 rather than the flashes of ‘brilliance’ the other two were capable of which may translate better to the Prem. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s first choice 12 by Xmas or if he sinks without trace. By all accounts he is a lovely bloke, if a bit of a rogue at times*, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed he makes it.

* Great story from the ex-forwards coach at the end of last season.....pre-season a couple of years ago and stories filtered through that Booj had been a very naughty boy over the summer (I know someone who grew up on Jersey with him and allegedly he’d always been, erm, lively after a few). Rayer and Hynes, said ex-Coach, sat down, discussed what had gone on and decided they had to release him from his contract. Hynes comes in after the weekend and asks Rayer how Booj took the news. Rayer replies “Really well. I’ve made him captain!” The rest, as they say, is history.

Typically wasps championship signings tend to have a season in the gym and playing aw and a league before getting more first team time in their 2nd season if they're going to make it.

He’s 28. I’m not sure he’s got a season to waste if he really wants to be a top Prem player. Also, I’m not sure he’ll need a season in the gym. From what I know - which is all second/third hand - he’s not one of these semi-pro players who fit training in round a job. He’s been pro in all but name for two years. There are a group at Bedford who take their conditioning very, very seriously and Booj is in that group. Granted, conditioning for the Champ won’t be the same as the Prem but I’m not sure he’ll be found wanting by enough that will take 12 months to sort.
It will interesting to see how he goes. As I said, he could be to the manner born or back in the Champ for his 30th birthday. I, and most others, knew 12t, Atkinson and Bassett would be Prem quality. Likewise most thought the likes of Alex Rae and Reeves probably wouldn’t make it. Chudley is like Booj in that it was obvious he was a very good Champ player who might make it in the Prem, and it took him 2/3 seasons to crack it. Booj doesn’t have the luxury of that amount of time.

For all the talk of individual players, the final table was probably the hardest thing to predict.

Saracens and Exeter are still the obvious choices to be the top two. I’d give Saracens the edge primarily because they have strengthened over the summer, whereas Exeter haven’t really and now look a little light (no replacement for Waldrom for example). That said, Brits will be a big loss for Saracens.

For the rest, it’s extremely hard to call. I’d have Wasps, Leicester, Gloucester and Bath as the most likely play-off contenders. Then there’s really not that much to choose between Sale, Quins, Newcastle, Saints and Worcester (who get better every season IMO).

New coaches at Quins and Saints will likely make a difference on last season and we’ll soon find out if Newcastle’s 4th was a blip or not.

As much as I rate Pat Lam, Bristol do look out there on their own at the bottom IMO. I’m not convinced enough of their squad is Premiership quality to stay up. They’ve made a lot of signings but as mentioned earlier in the thread, it’s been mainly volume over quality. Decent first XV but the standard drops from the bench onwards.

Mellsblue wrote:Blimey. The hype for Booj - Raggs is already on nickname terms - is growing already. How much has anybody actually seen him play?.

I knew nothing about him so I googled him. Had a little chuckle at this in his wiki entry:


Outside rugby
On Jersey, Le Bourgeois is viewed as a role model.[15] In August 2011, Le Bourgeois was arrested for drink-driving, theft of a vehicle, driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence.[16] He was banned from driving for 23 months and fined £1,600.[16] He was also banned by Jersey for one match which meant he did not play for Jersey against Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.[15] Afterwards, he apologised for his actions.[17]

twitchy wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:Blimey. The hype for Booj - Raggs is already on nickname terms - is growing already. How much has anybody actually seen him play?.

I knew nothing about him so I googled him. Had a little chuckle at this in his wiki entry:


Outside rugby
On Jersey, Le Bourgeois is viewed as a role model.[15] In August 2011, Le Bourgeois was arrested for drink-driving, theft of a vehicle, driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence.[16] He was banned from driving for 23 months and fined £1,600.[16] He was also banned by Jersey for one match which meant he did not play for Jersey against Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.[15] Afterwards, he apologised for his actions.[17]

Ha, yep. The guy I know who grew up with him has plenty of similar stories. Though, I believe the drink driving was a one off as he knew that was a step too far.

Raggs wrote:Typically wasps championship signings tend to have a season in the gym and playing aw and a league before getting more first team time in their 2nd season if they're going to make it.

Maybe Buster needed a season out of the gym becoming acquainted instead with a rugby ball

Mellsblue wrote:

twitchy wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:Blimey. The hype for Booj - Raggs is already on nickname terms - is growing already. How much has anybody actually seen him play?.

I knew nothing about him so I googled him. Had a little chuckle at this in his wiki entry:


Outside rugby
On Jersey, Le Bourgeois is viewed as a role model.[15] In August 2011, Le Bourgeois was arrested for drink-driving, theft of a vehicle, driving without insurance and driving without a valid driving licence.[16] He was banned from driving for 23 months and fined £1,600.[16] He was also banned by Jersey for one match which meant he did not play for Jersey against Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.[15] Afterwards, he apologised for his actions.[17]

Ha, yep. The guy I know who grew up with him has plenty of similar stories. Though, I believe the drink driving was a one off as he knew that was a step too far.

Just to clarify I chuckled at the bit that says he is a "role model" then immediately goes on to the drink driving stuff.